And while they may not necessarily have alcohol use disorder, regular binge drinking could lead to developing alcohol use disorder. You may have heard myths about alcohol and alcohol use disorder presented as facts. While some myths might be more harmful than others, it’s essential to understand the realities of alcohol and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorder is a complex medical condition affecting the brain. It involves an inability to control your alcohol consumption, regardless of its negative effect on your life or health. It’s common for people to have a casual relationship with alcohol.

• Whatever you drink, it is important to know your alcohol content so you can adapt how much you drink.
• Among routine drinkers, 44% of those who are aware of the news say it will lead to them drinking a lot less or a little less.
• They may give you a temporary shock, but they won’t miraculously sober you up.
• Additionally, alcohol can damage the nerves in the inner ear, affecting balance.
• Many individuals will believe that prescription drugs are safe as they are provided by medical professionals.

Myth #3: The ability to “hold liquor” lowers the risk of alcoholism

Often, this leads to more drinking or to sedative abuse in the quest for sleep. Among all drinkers who have heard of these studies, 41% say they plan to reduce the amount they drink either a lot (11%) or a little (30%) due to the findings. Still, 58% say it won’t have any impact on the amount they drink. As alcoholism is a brain illness, rehabilitation is required. No matter how severe an alcoholic’s actions may be, in order to recover, rehabilitation programmes are necessary. Alcoholism should be treated as other involuntary illnesses, instead of a voluntary disease, habit or choice.

Debunking the ‘Beer Before Liquor’ Saying: Myths and Facts

For some people who drink, it takes quite a few drinks to “get a buzz” or feel relaxed, and they may be less likely to show signs of intoxication compared to others. These individuals tend to drink more, socialize with people who drink a lot, and develop a tolerance to alcohol, i.e., it takes more and more alcohol to feel or act intoxicated. As a result, they have an increased risk for developing AUD. Someone who misuses alcohol, especially over the long-term, can experience permanent liver, heart, or brain damage. The effects of alcohol start sooner than people realize, with mild impairment (up to 0.05 blood alcohol concentration BAC) starting to affect speech, memory, attention, coordination, and balance. myths about alcoholism And if you are under 21, driving after drinking any amount of alcohol is illegal and you could lose your license.

Myth #9: Alcoholics drink every day, all-day

Our Treatment Advisors are available 24 hours a day to help you or a loved one access care. We’re ready to make sure you have the support you need to achieve lifelong recovery. While it’s true that psychological and emotional issues can contribute to alcohol misuse, they don’t automatically lead to full-blown alcoholism.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after four drinks for women and five drinks for men—in about two hours. Overall, 52% of Americans ages 21 and older say they’ve heard about studies showing that drinking alcohol can increase a person’s risk of cancer. Routine drinkers and those who drink monthly are somewhat more likely than those who drink only a few times a year or never to have heard of these findings. What is a healthy range of drinking for men and women age 65 years or older?

Myth: Only people who drink everyday have a problem with alcohol.

At any stage of alcoholism, you can be successful if you seek alcohol addiction treatment. To anyone that’s addicted to alcohol, one wine or beer can be the first step down an unhealthy path. Some people believe that if those suffering from addiction simply had better willpower they could quit drinking. Addiction is a disease and this myth is the same as saying someone with an illness should just get better by not wanting to be sick. It is worth adding here that although alcohol itself does not kill brain cells, alcohol withdrawal can kill you. It is another myth, then, that you can’t die from alcohol withdrawal.

In fact, if you need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to feel an effect, it could be a sign you have a problem with alcohol. The level of heat at the center of the body drops slowly yet visibly as the blood that had been cooled flows. The reaction will continue so long as alcohol continues to exist in the body. Drinking alcohol can leave you feeling more energetic and cheerful, but this is simply because it lessens your inhibitions, allowing you to indulge in unsafe acts. Alcohol, like a number of other substances, is deadly Twelve-step program and brings the deaths of thousands of people each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that getting drunk is the third-highest risk aspect that can be stopped yet still leads to death in the United States.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Defense Department (DOD) of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. The first step is to know that your questions and feelings are normal. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.

• And while each may stem from a kernel of truth (or at least logic), they’re not exactly rules to live by.
• If you drank alcoholic beverages the night before, the foremost thing you must do when you wake up is drink a glass of water.
• Some older adults may start to drink more because they are bored or feel lonely or depressed.
• You may hear a lot of tales around how to make drinking “easier” or “healthier,” but in reality, there aren’t any shortcuts or magic tricks out there.

Binge Drinking Is Never Safe

But many seek treatment as soon as they feel they need help. It’s not necessary to wait until things are “bad enough” to ask for addiction therapy. Think about it this way – would we judge someone with diabetes or cancer for having an illness? Addiction works in the same way, affecting both our physical and mental health.